Retired County Water Chief Named to State Commission

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has picked the former head of the county Department of Water Supply to fill a vacancy on a state commission.

Milton Pavao, who retired as the DWS chief in 2011, was nominated to the Commission on Water Resource Management.

The seven-person commission is charged with administering the State Water Code which is designed to protect Hawaii’s water resources.

Pavao would serve a four-year term beginning on July 1.

Pavao, a resident of Keaau, was honored in 1999 by the Hawaii Society of Professional Engineers as Engineer of the Year.

Abercrombie on Thursday also nominated Kamanamaikalani “Kamana” Beamer, an assistant professor at the University of Hawaii, to fill another seat on the water commission.

He also selected James A. Gomes to serve on the state Board of Land and Natural Resources. Gomes is operation manager for Ulupalakua Ranch on Maui.

All of the appointments are subject to confirmation by the Senate.